Emirates and Philippine Airlines’ interline pact to boost connectivity

Dubai-based Emirates and Philippine Airlines (PAL) have signed an interline agreement to boost connectivity for passengers of both air carriers, using a single ticket and one baggage policy.

The reciprocal interline partnership, which is now operational, provides Emirates’ passengers access to 19 Philippine domestic destinations operated by Philippine Airlines, including Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Cotabato, Davao, Iloilo, Kalibo and more, as well as two Asian regional points via Manila. 

Philippine Airlines’ passengers also benefit from access to Emirates’ global network and seamlessly connect to 21 cities operated by Emirates beyond Dubai to European destinations such as London, Rome, Frankfurt, Barcelona, Paris and Kuwait, as well as to Jeddah and other points in the Middle East, Africa and India, Emirates said in a statement.

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ chief commercial officer, said that the partnership with Philippine Airlines will help open new links for trade and tourism that will drive more inbound traffic into the market and expand Emirates’ footprint in East Asia. 

He added that Emirates’ plans include additional points via Cebu in the coming months.

Bud Britanico, Philippine Airlines vice president for sales, said that the new interline partnership expands the choices available to Philippine Airlines passengers, who now gain easier access to more destinations across Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa via its flights to Dubai. 

Emirates started operations in Manila in 1990 and has since expanded its network to include Cebu and Clark. The airline currently serves the Philippines with 25 weekly flights to the three gateways.

With the addition of its agreement with Philippine Airlines, Emirates now has interline partnerships with up to 120 air carriers. 

The Dubai-based airline has 27 codeshare partners, the statement said.